Into the Fire (The Unseelie Court Book 4) by Gwen Rivers (free ebooks romance novels .TXT) 📗

It’s Aiden’s turn to nod. “That’s right.”

“So, if he’s a queen with magic powers, how exactly are we supposed to abduct him?” The eyebrow over Liam’s blue eye juts up.

“I know the Underground Palace better than anyone in residence,” Aiden says. “The corridors which are collapsed, the ones that have been abandoned, the ones that are undoubtedly guarded. We’ll send in a small team to overpower him. All we need to do is avoid Underhill’s notice.”

“Oh, is that all,” Liam snorts.

“I’m going to lure her out,” I say.

“No,” Aiden snarls.

Which is exactly why I didn’t tell him in private. A wolf guarding his pregnant mate who was just sprung from jail is not prone to reason. If I’d told him upstairs, I don’t doubt he would have locked me in the room until the meeting was over.

“I have to. She banished me so I’m sure she has some way to track me. I won’t do anything foolish—I’ll just stay long enough to draw her notice.”

Aiden looks ready to argue when Angrboda steps forward. “Váli is right. You and the babe are far too valuable to risk. I have also been banished, so I will trigger the alarm.”

I hold her gaze for a long moment. I see many emotions flickering in the depths of her eyes. Regret, determination, anger.

“All right,” I acquiesce. “Chloe and I will wait at the farm.” Now that the FBI is out of the picture, it should be safe enough.

The backdoor opens and Garret strides in followed by Tate and Jedda. “Sophie? Are you all right? What the hell happened to the house? And what are all those naked guys doing on our prop—” he looks around at the crowd gathered in his home.

I get up. “Garret, I’m so sorry.”

Aiden reaches for my hand and tucks it inside his palm.

Garret’s blue gaze goes to the connection and his eyes narrow. “Is this the guy? The one who left you?”

I bristle at the tone. “This is Aiden.”

Aiden releases me and reaches out, extending his palm to shake Garret’s hand. “A pleasure, sir.”

Garret offers him a quicksilver smile, takes Aiden’s right hand in his left. His other hand balls into a fist. Then there is a crunch. Aiden staggers back, blood gushing from his nose.

“Aiden!” I fall to his side at the same time as Sophie cries out, “Garret!”

Garret ignores both of us, his eyes blazing blue fire at Aiden. “You just count your lucky stars that I’m not armed. That’s my daughter and I want to know right now whether your intentions toward her are honorable.”

I stare at him, open-mouthed.

“Sir, they are, sir.” Aiden sounds like a first-year cadet instead of a millennia-old god.

Garret goes on as if Aiden hadn’t answered. “Because if they aren’t, I’ll hunt you down like the mangey beast that you are. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I need a drink.” Shaking out his hand, he strides into the other room.

Sophie hands me a dishtowel and then hustles over to Tate and Jedda. “Come on boys, bath time.” She hurries them out of the room.

“Holy shit.” Liam is gaping at the scene. “Dude was lucky you didn’t really show him your inner beast.”

“I thought you said he was bookish?” Aiden winces as he touches the bridge of his broken nose.

“He is. And I was sure he didn’t like me.”

Liam snorts. “Yeah, but he’s still your dad.”

“What are you still doing here?” Aiden snaps at Liam. “I thought you were going.”

The other wolf shrugs. “No hurry.”

“Well, I guess that means the meeting is over.” Angrboda stands up and gives Liam a hearty once over. “If we’re going to die tomorrow, I want to find some company for the night. Too bad you’re family.”

“Yeah,” Liam says faintly as he watches Angraboda walk away. “Too bad.”

“Dude, quit gawking. She’s like your grandmother,” I snap.

Liam shakes his head as though to clear it.

“Are you all right?” I hold the cloth gently to Aiden’s nose.

“It will be. My pride took the worst of it.” He chuckles. “Sucker punched by a mortal. A bookish mortal.”

At least he isn’t angry. “I guess that’s what dads are like.”

“I’m just glad he doesn’t have any magic, or I’d be nothing but a twitching pulp on the floor.”

The others trickle out to make their preparations for our journey.

Aiden removes the towel. The bleeding has slowed and he’s healing before my eyes. Tossing the bloody towel in the trash, he offers me his arm. “Take a walk with me.”

I clasp his hand. “Want to get out of here before Garret comes back?”

His green eyes are sincere as he holds my gaze. “I just want some time alone with you.”

We step out onto the moonlit path and down to the beach. He raises his face to the shining fullness above.

“I guess I need to get used to thinking about the big picture.” I slide a hand over my belly.

His smile is soft. “I still can’t believe it.”

“Me either. I thought Hanson was messing with me at first.”

Aiden studies me. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I will be. Losing Astrid was the worst part.” Briefly, I tell him about the Norn girl. “Nothing good happens to people who befriend me. Sarah, Astrid, Gretchen.”

“Gretchen isn’t your fault. From what the wolves tell me, Fenrir is placed randomly in each lifetime.”

“It’s so odd, to think that Fenrir lives inside of her.” I shake my head. “Is it coincidence that he was born into a mortal at the same time in the same town as me?”

“I doubt it.” Aiden pulls me into the shadow of the barn. “Nothing is a coincidence. Someone somewhere is pulling the strings.”

I run a hand along his jawline. “Don’t let them catch you, Aiden. You’re just as valuable as I am now.”

He pulls my knuckles to his lips. “I won’t get caught. Not by Underhill or the fey.”

“And don’t get distracted either.” As much as it pains me, I know I can’t send him after Fern, Addy, Bard, Nahini, and